Anderson, Ragle square off in Walton superintendent race

Published: Monday, October 29, 2012 at 05:33 PM.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Two longtime educators are vying to be the superintendent of Walton County schools.

Political newcomer Rosemary Ragle and incumbent Carlene Anderson are seeking support from the county’s more than 38,000 registered voters in the Nov. 6 election.

Anderson previously went up against Trisha Hutchison in the Republican primary in August and won with more than 52 percent of the 6,457 votes cast.

Ragle, who is running as a Democrat, has never sought public office before. She said she wants to bring a different kind of leadership to the school district.

“I do not want to see regression, but I do want it to be a cooperative, collaborative experience … so that people feel they are a part of a team where work is valued and where they have a say in the way their work environment looks,” Ragle said. “I want them to be able to continue their work and feel valued.”

As the district’s coordinator for exceptional education and psychological services and a former teacher, Ragle said she is familiar with overcoming challenges and believes she can help ease the burden on teachers.

“I think that there is a way to follow mandates and to allow teachers to continue to spend time in the classroom,” Ragle said. “So much is expected of them in terms of students’ achievement, and yet they’re out of the classroom so much of the time.

“I think there is a happy medium and I think the emphasis on high-stakes testing is not helping us in Florida.”

Anderson, who is seeking her third term, said she understands the frustrations associated with the new teacher evaluations and testing.

“I have reservations about over-testing children. However, we do have to do progress monitoring so we know we’re on the right track with each child,” she said. “And we do have to find that balance between knowing where students are academically and not over-testing.”

Anderson said many of the issues for parents, students and teachers are coming from a state and federal level.

“We follow the rules,” she said. “We may not always agree … but we do follow the law.”

Both women acknowledge the challenges posed in Walton County based on different demographics in various regions of the county.

“Yes, we have a diverse population, but we have to have a plan to meet their needs equitably,” Ragle said, specifically noting differences in access to technology.

Anderson said she has welcomed the challenge brought by the varying demographics. She said the Walton School District is one of five that has held onto the high-performing designation for six years despite the new challenges brought by class-size restrictions.

TO LEARN MORE:

For more information on the election or where to vote in Walton County, visit www.votewalton.com.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Two longtime educators are vying to be the superintendent of Walton County schools.

Political newcomer Rosemary Ragle and incumbent Carlene Anderson are seeking support from the county’s more than 38,000 registered voters in the Nov. 6 election.

Anderson previously went up against Trisha Hutchison in the Republican primary in August and won with more than 52 percent of the 6,457 votes cast.

Ragle, who is running as a Democrat, has never sought public office before. She said she wants to bring a different kind of leadership to the school district.

“I do not want to see regression, but I do want it to be a cooperative, collaborative experience … so that people feel they are a part of a team where work is valued and where they have a say in the way their work environment looks,” Ragle said. “I want them to be able to continue their work and feel valued.”

As the district’s coordinator for exceptional education and psychological services and a former teacher, Ragle said she is familiar with overcoming challenges and believes she can help ease the burden on teachers.

“I think that there is a way to follow mandates and to allow teachers to continue to spend time in the classroom,” Ragle said. “So much is expected of them in terms of students’ achievement, and yet they’re out of the classroom so much of the time.

“I think there is a happy medium and I think the emphasis on high-stakes testing is not helping us in Florida.”

Anderson, who is seeking her third term, said she understands the frustrations associated with the new teacher evaluations and testing.

“I have reservations about over-testing children. However, we do have to do progress monitoring so we know we’re on the right track with each child,” she said. “And we do have to find that balance between knowing where students are academically and not over-testing.”

Anderson said many of the issues for parents, students and teachers are coming from a state and federal level.

“We follow the rules,” she said. “We may not always agree … but we do follow the law.”

Both women acknowledge the challenges posed in Walton County based on different demographics in various regions of the county.

“Yes, we have a diverse population, but we have to have a plan to meet their needs equitably,” Ragle said, specifically noting differences in access to technology.

Anderson said she has welcomed the challenge brought by the varying demographics. She said the Walton School District is one of five that has held onto the high-performing designation for six years despite the new challenges brought by class-size restrictions.

TO LEARN MORE:

For more information on the election or where to vote in Walton County, visit www.votewalton.com.